A suicide bomber has killed at least 11 members of Tunisia’s presidential guard after detonating explosives on a crowded bus in the nation’s capital of Tunis.

It has been reported that supporters of ISIS are claiming responsibility for the attack on social media, although there is no official word to confirm this as yet.

The blast allegedly went off just yards away from Tunisia’s interior ministry as President Beji Caid Essebsi’s personal guard were in transit along a busy road.

EPA

Mohamed V Avenue was apparently heavy with pedestrian traffic at the time as the street is lined with with shops.

According to a spokesman for the interior ministry the cause of the blast is not confirmed, but there are fears it was carried out by Islamist militants who continue to destabilise the country.

In June of this year 39 tourists were killed by a gunman, 30 of which were British, on a beach in Sousse, whilst in March 22 people were killed during a shooting at the the Bardo Museum.

EPA

The attack raises serious questions about the ability of Tunisian security forces to identify and prevent acts of terrorism as a jihadist got so close to men who would guard the nation’s leader.

The prime minister and interior minister have both visited the scene of the burning wreckage to investigate and pay their respects.

Kieron Curtis

An NCTJ Journalist with an MA in Sports Journalism, Kieron is an experienced social media journalist who has worked in the industry since 2015. His experience includes work with ITN, the MEN, WISH/WIRE/TOWER FM, and 8:50 Sports Digest... not forgetting his time at ASDA.